Page 131 of His Fated Luna

“Sure.” Aiden'svoice was nonchalant but the gleam in his eyes told an entirely different story.

He leaned into me, lips melding over mine as he coaxed my mouth open with his tongue. His hand came to tangle in my hair and I let myself enjoy the way his tongue swirled around mine, lapping up remnants of my fruity drink. Unconsciously, I leaned into him.

“It’s good.” His voice was gruff and a little breathless as we parted for air. A roguish grin split across his face before he said, “But I have to try it again to be sure.” And he was back, kissing me, tasting me like I was the sweetest thing he’d ever had.

By the time we two made our way back home, it was late evening and Aiden was loath to give my company up. He followed me into my room where he stayed with me, surprised at how he didn't tire of spending so much time with me.

That night, when he finally said with a resigned sigh that he had to get up early for a meeting tomorrow, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of disappointment.

Aiden gave me one last long lingering kiss before retreating, using the main door to go to his room. It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him to come back...or take me with him. I missed sleeping in his bed; I wanted to keep sleeping next to him and his warmth.

And altogether, a new dream took root in my mind. One that involved me nestled against Aiden'swarm, very human, body as I drifted off to sleep every night.

I reasoned to myself that it was always the fires that burned the brightest that ended up burning out the fastest. And I burned for him like I'd never burned for anyone else. It scared me.Maybe it scared Aiden too, and it felt like one wrong move would mess everything up for us.

Aiden's POV

I left Rose's room lost in my thoughts. Rose was insecure about me and her status in my life. Since I had been inside her mind, it had become blatantly clear. A contrite voice inside my head kept telling me that I was one of the main reasons behind those insecurities of hers. No, I never wanted her to be insecure. I wanted her to be confident and sure of herself. She was amazing, and it was sad she didn’t realize how much I cared about her.

I never wanted her to feel forced into deciding when and if to have sex. I remembered her on the day I’d first met her, her huge innocent blue eyes appealing to me. Telling me she could only mate with someone she loved…

I hoped, one day, that someone would be me. I wouldn't mate with her until she loved me, just like I loved her.

Chapter 41

"Truth is, everybody is going to hurt you; you just gotta find the ones worth suffering for.” ? Bob Marley,

Rose's POV

I stood doing my makeup in my cream-colored silk robe. Auntie Hilda looked on approvingly as she laid my dress out on the bed. It was a tight black spaghetti strap cocktail dress with a slit up to mid-thigh. Tonight was the social dinner that always took place before the conference event the next day. Auntie Hilda had come over to help me get ready. I had made the conscientious decision that my stylist was not required. My decision was based on the fact that I felt more confident now. Iwas Luna of BloodPhoenix Pack. I didn’t need makeup to prove I belonged.

“Here, Rose,” Auntie Hilda opened the jewelry box to reveal the multi-stranded pearl necklace. The diamonds between each pearl glittered like always. “Josie says you should keep your jewelry with you from now on since you’ll be expected to attend these alpha meetings on the regular. She said there’s a safe in your room to keep them in.”

“It’s in Aiden's room,” I said, turning around to look at Auntie Hilda with a helpless smile. “But I’m sure I could ask him for the combination.”

“You’re still not sharing a room?” Auntie Hilda questioned with a raised eyebrow. “I thought you were just using this room to get ready.”

I looked away as a knock from my room’s entrance door stopped me from answering.

“Come in,” I called.

Aiden entered. He was in his dress pants and dark-blue dress shirt. Deep blue eyes roved up and down my robe-clad body.

“Do you need me to help you put on the pearls, Rose?” Auntie Hilda inquired after greeting Aiden. “I’ll just be on my way, otherwise,” she added hastily, not missing the look in Aiden's eyes as he looked at me. I blushed under his scrutiny.

“I can help her,” Aiden volunteered, walking over to take the velvet jewelry box from Auntie Hilda.

Auntie Hilda cleared her throat. “Alright, I guess I’ll see you later.”

With that, she was out the door but not before casting a triumphant smile our way. We were way too engrossed in each other to spare Auntie Hilda a second glance.

Aiden stood there looking at me as I stared back at him. The alpha swallowed before lifting the necklace out of the jewelry box. I obediently moved my hair aside, turning so he could claspthe pearl necklace around my throat. His fingers tickled the back of my neck as the pearls settled over my collar and the tops of my breasts. Then, almost as if I was imagining it, Aiden's arms inched around my waist with deliberate slowness, pulling me back into his chest. He was giving me time to pull away if I felt uncomfortable.

I gasped when I felt his manhood poking into my backside. He was aroused, just from looking at me. Teeth grazed the side of my neck as he breathed in my scent. My legs shook. Masculine hands roved up playing with the pearls heavy on my chest, the balls rolling against my skin sensually. Like lightning, he turned me in his arms, crushing his lips to mine. The pearl strands dug into the satin of my robe, rubbing against my skin, clinking together with each movement. His hands snagged onto the tie of my robe. My hands clamped down over his instinctively.

He tore his lips away and whispered, his voice filled with want, “Is it OK…” Fingers toyed with the bow holding my robe together.

“We…the dinner party…we’ll be late,” I breathed.